2013 Ford Focus · engine
2013 Ford Focus Engine Recall: What Owners Should Know
Official NHTSA recall 26V011000 affects 2013 Ford Focus engine components. Learn severity, the factory remedy, and replacement options for used vs reman engines.
What is this recall about?
Ford Motor
Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
How serious is it?
Severity score: **45/100** (population, component class, and safety language from the federal defect report).
**Consequence:** An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Official fix
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
[View campaign 26V011000 on NHTSA](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
What owners should do
1. Confirm whether your vehicle received the factory remedy (dealer service history or VIN lookup at [NHTSA.gov/recalls](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)). 2. Do not assume a high-mileage donor engine was repaired before removal. 3. Compare **remanufactured** options that include updated components vs **used** units from unknown recall history.
Replacement options
When the recall affects engine components, remanufactured engines are often the safer value choice because they are rebuilt with current parts — not pulled from a donor that may pre-date the factory fix.
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Frequently asked questions
Does this recall mean every engine on this platform is defective?
No. The recall applies to vehicles that may not have received the factory remedy. A used engine from a high-mileage donor may never have been repaired under the campaign.
Is remanufactured safer than used when a recall is open?
Remanufactured assemblies are rebuilt to current specifications and are not dependent on an unknown donor repair history — a common consideration when an open powertrain recall affects the platform.
Should I remove my engine before contacting support?
Document symptoms, save scan results, and contact support with installation details before removal so the issue can be reviewed accurately.
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_Reported from the official NHTSA recall record; reviewed before publication._
